Love your local market

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is encouraging residents and visitors to the area to support local markets as part of the national Love Your Local Market campaign, from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 28 May.

Now in its third year, Love Your Local Market celebrates the important role markets play in their local communities and town centres, aiming to attract new people to take up market trading and boost the number of people visiting them.

The East Riding is home to several fine market towns and has a long and proud tradition of market trading spanning back centuries.

There are several weekly markets, including two in Beverley, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Each of the markets has a variety of stalls selling a wide range of goods and services, often locally-sourced or produced, including food and drink, gifts, arts and crafts, clothing, curtains and bedding, baby wear and pet supplies amongst others.

Markets also provide consumers with the opportunity to meet traders face-to-face. With most market places now enjoying the benefits of new seating, customers can also take the time to stop and relax and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market day.

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, investment and inequalities at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council is proud to once again be supporting the national Love Your Local Market Campaign, which is hugely significant in the East Riding.

“Markets play an important role in our local economy and are part of the area’s rich history, with most of our weekly markets dating back hundreds of years.

“Markets aren’t just a place to purchase goods and services; they have a social element as well, ­­ providing a place for people to get together, enjoy a cup of coffee and share a conversation.

“Love Your Local Market provides an excellent opportunity to promote and celebrate our markets in the East Riding, both locally and nationally, and we would urge all our residents and visitors to the area to go down and see what their local market has to offer.”

John Dyson, a local market trader and president-elect of National Market Traders Federation, said: “Markets are important to communities and Love Your Local Market will help raise our profile and remind people that we are still here.

“The East Riding does really well in terms of markets and we are looking at ways to attract more customers.

“If you have a good idea for a market stall and are thinking of becoming a trader, just go for it. Leases are reasonable and the older traders are always prepared to offer advice and guidance.”

If anyone has an idea for a business that they would like to explore further they can contact any of the East Riding Business centres for free business advice and make an appointment to see a business advisor.